Bid management

Join Wates and help us win new business as part of our brilliant Bid team. It’s fast-paced, challenging, and rewarding — a place where your career can thrive.

There’s no better place to build your career

Join a winning team…

Wates has just enjoyed one of our best years ever, and our Bid team played a key role in supporting that success.

It’s not just about writing bids. There are a huge range of roles from bid proposal managers to estimators, project management, graphic designers, building information modelling (BIM), 4d modellers and more. Once you’re here, you can also tap into opportunities across the group.

At Wates, we believe in actively identifying talent and nurturing it. We make sure everyone has opportunities to develop and take their career to the next level. If we think you’re 80% ready for that next step, and you’re up for the challenge, we’ll help you take it.

Image representing talent identification and nurturing: "Actively identifying and nurturing talent for career progression in bid management"

Help your career

About you…

Whether you’re an experienced bid writer, fancy a career change, or are returning to work after a break, we’d love to hear from you.

If you don’t have industry experience, don’t worry. In our bid team, we value a variety of transferable skills you may already possess, such as writing, attention to detail, project management, and relationship building.

That’s why our team includes people from diverse backgrounds, including law, education, and finance. What matters most to us is finding the right people with the right mindset to succeed.

View our bid vacancies

Careers in bid management

Want to be a part of our team?

Senior Estimator

Location: Newbury

Job Type: Estimating

Application Deadline: 12-12-2025

We have an opportunity for a Senior Estimator to join our Construction South team, to effectively utilise skills, experience and knowledge within a team environment to produce tenders which will win profitable work.Key Accountabilities include: Preparing competitive net estimates and subsequently attending settlements and presentations of the estimates Abstracting information into subcontract & material packages Analysing & vetting subcontract tender returns Price elements from ‘first principle’ on a labour, plant & material basis Quantify & cost plan build costs from limited information to support initial development appraisals Have a thorough understanding of project, scope of works and restrictions imposed by contractual requirements and site conditions Establish opportunities/scope to maximize value.We are looking for a qualified Senior Estimator with a proven track record of analytical estimating and cost planning to tight deadlines, with an in-depth knowledge of complex jobs within the construction industry and worked on Commercial sector projects over £50M.To be successful in the role you will be self-motivated and an excellent communicator, able to work as part of a team. A broad knowledge of construction methods, with working knowledge of estimating software and Excel are essential. WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & bonus Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car (subject to Role/Grade) Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… Excellent range of learning and development activity to support your career progression. Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity.

A career at Wates